FRESH SET OF EYES

It's interesting how a fresh set of eyes can help to tweak one's work.....even AFTER it's finished.

Though there are numerous techniques applied to the piece, the single rose may be just a bit lonely.......yielding a composition that could use improvement.

Heirloom Blush 8" x 12"

SOLD

Artist hand-dyed felted wool, hand dyed gauze, hand applique, hand embroidery, & featuring extensive beadwork.

Even though it's difficult to add motifs to a piece that's completed......I charged ahead and added a secondary motif which helps to avoid the 'bullseye' of the original rose.

PROBLEM SOLVED

Finally, the new avenue I've been exploring has come to the a happy ending.  I'd never made or worked with rusted fabric before and it was an education. I had no idea that needling would be such a challenge.

If you missed the drama.....click here to learn more and then follow other past posts.  

I ended up using beads to highlight the binding, just not the way I had originally envisioned.  Instead, small black matte beads were scattered stitched along the top of the binding which compliment the chicken scratch embroidery on the body of the quilt.

A thank you goes out to Judy Simmons again for giving me the fabulous cabochon which adapted perfectly to this rusted fabric.

Elements   5 1/2" x 10"

SOLD

Artist made rusted fabric, hand embroidery, bead embellished on body of quilt and binding.

(click on photo to enlarge)

WEEK 6

Now that I'm out of the Suicide Football pool, I need only concentrate on and cheer for one team......of course that's the Green & Gold of the Greenbay Packers....

But....what's this???  The coolest uniforms I've seen in a long time.  They wore replicas of uniforms worn in 1929.  That fledgling team, under the guidance of Curly Lambueau, received a $500 uniform stipend from Acme Packing.....his full time employer to purchase uniforms.  Their stats that year were 12-0-1.

Considering they've begun this season with a 6-0 record......they are on their way again!

We are luckier this year then ever because the Packer games will be shown on network TV a lot.  However, yesterday's win of 23-3 over the Rams wasn't.....so off we headed to the local sports bar to cheer for our team!

And yes.....we weren't the only Packer backers.  This adorable little fellow (nearly a year old) had both is Mom and Grandmothers chasing after him.....as he proudly tottered around wearing #12!

I actually already own some old school Packer gear.....and after seeing the cool knit caps the players were wearing I got on line when we got home.  My goodness.....you can buy just about anything with the Packer branding.....love it!!!

                                                       
                                                          

PTA OCT. MEETING

Our PTA Fiber group met this week and as usual we oohed and aahed during show and tell.  Our group has very active lives, in and out of quilting, so our gathering was a bit smaller this month with some members elsewhere, but as always, it was so worthwhile!

Mary Berry is recreating this wonderful childhood photo of herself.

 She's skilled at applique and does pictorial quilts very well!  Isn't this a great idea for the subject of a quilt?

Kate is nearing completion on this charming applique design......I admire how she excels in all forms of quilting....from patchwork to applique!

ATTN: ALL QUILT FESTIVAL/HOUSTON BOUND QUILTERS

It's that time of the year when quilters everywhere flock to Houston for Quilt Festival.  So....it's also the time of the year for me to remind all of you going in early November, or for you to pass this along to your pals who are lucky enough to be attending.....

BE SURE TO STOP at the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative booth in Row T.  Ami Simms, our tireless 'commader-in-chief'.....has collected 1,500 donation quilts that will be sold at the show. One quilt at a time has helped to raise nearly $600,00 since January 2006 to raise awareness and fund Alzheimber's research.   

Here's a a sampling of just one stack of these 9" x 12" priority quilts that will be on display.

EVER-----green  9" x 12"

by Mary Stori

This is the piece I donated:  artist hand-dyed felted wool, hand embroidered and heavily beaded.  It's ready to hang and I hope someone has just the perfect spot for this quilt!

FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS

Western North Carolina is famous for its breathtaking fall color.....this year is no exception.  Alas, this weekend the trees may be at their peak.....so if you live nearby, be sure to get out and enjoy the scenery.

FINISHING DIFFICULTIES

Well.....what a surprise I had in store for me as work continued on this little piece....still unnamed.  It's usually easy for me to name designs, but so far this one eludes me.

Anyway.....I had planned to hand quilt the background but absolutely couldn't get a needle through many of the rusted areas.  Finally, I gave up and took it to the machine.  Well, slap me on the head.....even a jeans needle wouldn't penetrate some of these areas, making me afraid I'd ruin my machine if I forced it.  I gave that up and only stitched in the ditch between the two borders. 

The next problem arose when I tried to machine sew the binding on. Seriously, even using just one layer of binding material, there were areas where the needle would not pass through.  NOT good!  I even tried some traditional cotton fabric for the binding and that didn't work either.

The answer....was a surprise.....  I was able to hand sew the binding using a very sharp/strong quilting between.  Ya never know what will work.

All along I planned on using a continuous picot seed bead edging treatment along the fold of the binding.  I was stunned that my first choice of beads didn't work well.....and further surprised that none of my other 3 choices worked either.  Neither the colors nor the shape of the bead, framed the quilt like I imagined.  What's a gal to do?  I'm working on that and hope to find the answer today!

MARY'S NEW SHOP BLOG

INTRODUCING MY NEW BLOG!!  Mary Stori's Gallery Shop.  The blog will be a one stop shop, a place to easily view and purchase all my sale quilts.  This project has been in the works for quite awhile......designed to coincide with the reduction of my travel teaching schedule.  I will probably always teach, if someone asks, but will try to stick to local venues as much as possible in the future.

So now I'll be concentrating on using my time to create smaller pieces of work to sell.  Which leads me to the new blog.  After authoring 6 books and a DVD, not to mention a vast list of publishing credits for magazines and other specialty books, I have amassed a large collection of quilts that need new homes.

Note to collectors.......many of the pieces offered are the original quilts published in my various books (AQS appraisals are also available for several.)  Numerous quilts have been exhibited in national shows and seen on HGTV's Simply Quilts as well.

I hope you will visit the shop and send your friends too.  

NFL SUICIDE POOL

Oh darn, oh darn.......shock and awe......despite having a nearly 10 point spread, the NY Giants lost (big time) to Seattle...... the photos speak for themselves.......the BALL was owned by the Seahawks.

So, I'm out of the pool........as are an astonishing other 21 participants who also picked the Giants to win this week.  The pool started with 53 and now, after only week #5 there are only 5 left.  I don't think there has ever been that many folks knocked out on one game and there has never been this few left at the beginning of the season!!  The last man standing wins the $1,000 + pot.

Two years ago I also went out by picking the Giants and that was on the 2nd week!!!  Honestly, it would have been nice to get a fat payback.....but I love being in just because it makes the games far more interesting.  But like they say.....'there's always next year'.

LOVIN' BOVINES

I've said it before, but it needs to be said again......travel teaching has allowed me to meet such nice folks all over the world.  I feel so fortunate!!!  Some, like my pal Jackie from Colorado Spring, have become really good buddies.  

Jackie has the most unbelievable knack for finding bovine related products.....from cards, to pens, to trinkets, to the newest....paper napkins. If you are familiar with my career....you may be aware I often feature cows in my work.....especially Holstein cows.

Thanks Jackie for bringing a big ole' grin to my face with the surprise gift!!!